Page 6 The Gunnison Valley Gazette Thursday, March 12, 2009 Farm Bureau’s annual banquet by CARI HANSEN SALT LAKE CITY, UT, March 9, 2009 – Bill York, Farm Loan Chief for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Utah announced today that FSA will immediately use $145 million of the $173 million provided in the Recovery Act for its Direct Operating Farm Loan Program, which will give 2,042 farmers - almost 50% are beginning farmers and 10% are socially disadvantaged producers - direct loans from the agency. In Utah this allowed 57 approved direct operating loans totaling $4,107,270 million be issued. “These loans will be used to purchase items such as farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel and other operating expenses and will stimulate rural economies by providing American farmers funds to operate,” said York. All remaining funding will be allocated through approved loans until all available funds have been expended. Applications are considered on a first come, first served basis with special emphasis placed on beginning and socially disadvantaged applicants. The maximum loan amount is $300,000. In keeping with the president’s goal for the Recovery Act, this loan funding is intended for proper investment into the agricultural sector, to benefit both family farmers and rural economies. The Recovery Act was designed to preserve or create millions of jobs throughout the country and these loans help ensure that recipients remain financially viable and local agribusinesses benefit from direct purchases. Here is a hypothetical example of purchases made with a $100,000 direct operating loan: • Used Farm Tractor: $45,000 • Livestock: $18,000 • Seed: $15,000 • Fertilizer: $10,000 • Fuel: $12,000 The effect of this loan reaches the local implement dealership, sale barn, the grain seed distributor, the fertilizer distributor and a local fuel dealership. For specific information on direct operating loans and other FSA farm loan programs, please visit your FSA county office or our website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov. On Thursday night the Sanpete County Farm Bureau members met for their annual banquet to recognize their recent accomplishments, and to provide financial assistance to those in need. Lee and Joy Barton were awarded with the 2009 Distinguished Service Award for their outstanding service to Agriculture and Farm Bureau. Lee is a third generation sheep man and was awarded Utah Sheep Man of the year in 1969, but then turned his attention to raising turkeys in 1988. He was also the Farm Bureau President for 10 years. Joy has been involved with agriculture for over 60 years and has driven every farm truck there is. They currently reside in Chester. The American Farm Bureau was founded nearly 90 years ago to help farmers become more profitable and create an effective political lobbying presence nationally and locally. When asked how this works, Commissioner Steve Frischknecht, who also is on the Farm Bureau Board of Directors, said, “Farm Bureau is a grass-roots organization. It has a policy book that starts Cari Hansen/Gunnison Valley Gazette Members of the Sanpete County Farm Bureau Russell and Cindy Yardley with Lee and Tina Sorensen. here in Sanpete County, then it goes up to the State Farm Bureau and eventually goes to the National Farm Bureau. This means that policies start from the bottom-up. What we say here in Sanpete County really counts. The Farm Bureau also has the ability to represent all parts of people’s lives.” Recently the Sanpete County Farm Bureau was recognized as one of the top County Farm Bureaus at the Utah Farm Bureau Conven- tion held in Layton. County Farm Bureaus are judged on six categories of achievement and are awarded ‘Gold Stars’ based on excellence in those categories. Of all the county Farm Bureaus, Sanpete County Farm Bureau joined Box Elder, Uintah and Washington County as the only County Farm Bureaus to earn five of six ‘Gold Stars.’ The Utah Farm Bureau Creative Story Contest deadline is coming up. This contest fosters a greater understanding of Utah’s agricultural industry. The theme is “Food Grows Where Water Flows.” The contest is open to all students in grades 3 through 8. Entries should not exceed 1000 words and should have a basis in factual materials. The deadline is March 31 and there are cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each grade. For more information contact Cindy Yardley at 528-3910. The Clothesline A clothesline was a news forecast to neighbors passing by. There were no secrets you could keep when clothes were hung to dry. It also was a friendly link, for neighbors always knew If company has stopped by to spend a night or two. ‘Cause then you’d see the fancy sheets and towels upon the lineYou’d see the company table cloths with intricate design. The line announced a baby’s birth to folks who lived inside, As brand new infant clothes were hung carefully with pride. The ages of the children could so readily be known, By watching how the sizes changed, you’d know how much they’d grown. It also told when illness struck as extra sheets were hung. Then nightclothes and a bathrobe, too, haphazardly were hung. It said, “Gone on vacation now” when lines hung limp and bare. It told, “We’re back!” when full lines sagged with not an inch to spare. But clotheslines now are of the past, for dryers make work less. Now what goes on inside a home is anybody’s guess. I really miss that way of life-- it was a friendly sign, When neighbors knew each other best by what hung upon the line! -Submitted by Lila Phillips SADLY, OUR ELECTRICITY RATES CAN NO LONGER REMAIN STUCK IN THE 80s. Subscribe to the Gazette! Call 528-5178 or email gazette@ gtelco.net © 2009 Rocky Mountain Power Yes, the 80s were great. Preppy was king and music videos were the rage. Did you know you’re paying the same overall average price* for electricity here in Utah as customers did in 1985? Yet the amount of electricity you and others use has grown immensely. Now, more homes have air conditioning, multiple TVs, computers and other electronic products that keep our lives energized. * Applies to Residential rates only. To ensure sufficient electricity is available to satisfy the increase in demand and to power future growth, Rocky Mountain Power has and will continue to invest billions in new infrastructure. While the price of electricity will increase, we want you to know we are committed to delivering electricity as safely and efficiently as possible, along with providing you the answers that will help you save energy and money – right now in 2009. To learn more, visit rockymountainpower.net.